Install GPS in buses within six weeks: Gauhati High Court.

Source – northeasttoday.in

The Gauhati High Court has directed the State Transport Commissioner to install GPS (Global Positioning System) in all buses within six weeks so as to enable tracking of their movement. The Court has also directed him to ensure that all buses are fitted with doors within a month for passengers’ safety.

A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Soumitra Saikia issued this directive on January 7, 2020 to the State government in connection with the PIL (72/2016) filed by Rita Das Mozumdar to ease traffic congestion in Guwahati arising out of haphazard parking, ill-management of traffic, unscientific traffic control etc.

In his affidavit on January 3, 2020, DIG (MPC) Nitul Gogoi informed the High Court that steps have already been taken for – (i) conducting a scientific study of traffic on major roads and traffic congestion, (ii) identifying roads and other spaces for parking, (iii) creation of two facebook accounts and Whatsapp numbers and for giving wide publicity thereto, (iv) broadcasting of traffic congestion on FM radio station, (v) encouraging citizens to point out traffic congestion through social media, (vi) deputation of officers not below the rank of the DIG for monitoring the Facebook and Whatsapp accounts, (vii) ensuring flow of buses on their allotted routes only, (viii) installation of CCTV cameras outside shops, (ix) not allowing vending on streets which may cause traffic congestion, (x) deploying police personnel in civil dresses to take input in regard to traffic congestion, and (xi) ensuring bus stops beyond ¾ of a km.

The DIG also informed the High Court that steps are being taken with the Transport Department to ensure that long-body buses do not ply on congested roads.

Taking the safety of passengers into consideration, the High Court has directed the Transport Commissioner to ensure that all buses are fitted with doors within a month and not to allow any bus to ply without doors. In order to ease traffic congestion in all arterial roads in the city, especially GS Road and MG Road, the High Court directed the Transport department to rationalize route permits.

The bench has also asked the GDD and the GMDA to take all possible steps for installation of CCTV cameras at red light points within three months.

The High Court has also asked the Government to identify bus bays, preferably on the MG Road from Bharalumukh to Jalukbari, within three weeks; and ensure that no buses stop at Jalukbari Rotary point where there is no bus stop but often seen buses stopping there. The Court has also asked the PWD and the GMC to evict food vendors from the area. The Court has asked all the respondents to submit their compliance reports to it on or before February 3, 2020 when the PIL will be heard.